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GAZA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior delegation from Islamic Hamas movement in the Palestinian Gaza Strip headed Sunday for Egypt to meet with Egyptian officials a day before a major Palestinian rally along the Gaza-Israel borders, spokesman for Hamas said.

The delegation is headed by Ismail Haniya, head of Hamas political bureau, and includes members of the movement's political bureau.

The delegation, which crossed into Egypt through Rafah crossing, was invited by Egyptian officials, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement.

"The goal of the visit is to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian and regional issues," Barhoum said.

Palestinians in Gaza intend to organize a mass protest along the borders with Israel on Monday as part of the "Great Return of March" which kicked off on March 30.

Thousands of Palestinians are expected to join the Monday march to protest the 70th anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence, the day after which is marked by the Palestinians as the Nakba Day, or the "Day of Catastrophe," when most of the Palestinians were forced out of their cities and towns to become refugees.

They will also protest against the transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the disputed city of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want its eastern part as the capital of their future state.

At least 49 Palestinians were killed and more than 8000 others injured by Israeli soldiers since the rallies started in late March.聽